New York Giants Team Grades vs. New Orleans Saints Week 2

Passing Offense Grade: B-

The Giants had as juicy a matchup as you could ask for. They have talent everywhere in the passing game in Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz going up against a depleted Saints secondary. It had the makings of a massacre but didn’t turn into one.

Eli Manning had nice stats, going 32-of-41 for 368 yards, but he did not throw a touchdown. Beckham Jr. had two occasions he could have scored touchdowns, but dropped a pass on the Giants last drive of the game and faced some tough defense from Sterling Moore in the first quarter. He finished the game with eight receptions for 86 yards.

Shepard had a monster game, as he feasted in the middle of the field. He had a career-high eight receptions for 117 yards, consistently ripping off chunk yardage. Cruz continued to show that he is back, catching four passes for 91 yards. He had a bad fumble in the second quarter on a long catch and run but made up for it by setting up the Giants’ game-winning field goal on the last drive.

It was surprising to see the Giants not take more shots against the Saints, as they struggled to defend them all afternoon. The Giants got essentially whatever they wanted through the air, but were content taking shorter passes as the Saints did everything they could to prevent the Giants from getting behind them. Manning absorbed two sacks and was hit one other time, as the offensive line was able to keep him clean throughout the afternoon.